The points of issue
True first is the paperback original, Lion Books #99 (1952), 25 cents. Wraps-only; no hardcover precedes it. Lion Books logo on spine/cover and the catalog number 99 identify the issue. A cornerstone Thompson paperback original and his most collected title.
Is this the true first?
The paperback IS the true first; Thompson's classic Lion/Lion Library titles were nearly all paperback originals. Much later hardcover reprints (e.g., later collected/reissued editions) are 'first thus' only.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Lion #99 first from the later Lion Library reissue and from modern reprints (Black Lizard, Mulholland, etc.), which are obvious modern editions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Killer Inside Me a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: True first is the paperback original, Lion Books #99 (1952), 25 cents. Wraps-only; no hardcover precedes it. Lion Books logo on spine/cover and the catalog number 99 identify the issue. A cornerstone Thompson paperback original and his most collected title.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The paperback IS the true first; Thompson's classic Lion/Lion Library titles were nearly all paperback originals. Much later hardcover reprints (e.g., later collected/reissued editions) are 'first thus' only.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. Distinguish the Lion #99 first from the later Lion Library reissue and from modern reprints (Black Lizard, Mulholland, etc.), which are obvious modern editions.
I have a first edition of The Killer Inside Me — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.